40 years later, survivors of Liberty spy ship seek answers

NORFOLK, Va. -- Their lightly armed spy ship was cruising the Mediterranean off the coast of Egypt, watching and eavesdropping during the Six-Day War in 1967 between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

The sky was clear and the sea calm. Suddenly, Israeli war planes swooped down and ships approached, firing at the deck as sailors aboard the Liberty struggled to save the Norfolk-based ship.

The assault--40 years ago Friday--lasted as long as 75 minutes, killing 34 U.S. sailors and wounding 173 others.

Almost immediately, the Israeli government took responsibility and called it a grave error made in the fog of combat. The U.S. government agreed.

The battered Liberty crew believed then--and now--that the attack was deliberate and that their government covered up the truth. The sailors kept quiet at first, as the Navy commanded. But over the years, their doubt and candor festered.

Now, the veterans want the case reopened, and to know why they were attacked. ...